New Brunswick’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure’s ordinary budget is increasing by more than $20 million this year, with the goal of investing in infrastructure to ensure the continued safety of New Brunswickers.
The department’s total ordinary budget is more than $349 million, which represents an increase of 6 per cent from last year’s budget and a 14 per cent increase from the 2018-19 budget which had been just over $307 million.
“We continue to be prudent with taxpayers’ money and invest strategically across the province and not just in one or two regions,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Jill Green. “This budget demonstrates our government’s commitment to making the necessary investments in our infrastructure.”
The department will invest:
- $30.5 million in the summer highway maintenance program, which includes pothole repairs, ditching and shoulder repairs;
- $6.2 million in the brush-cutting program, which represents an increase of $4 million from last year;
- $15.2 million in the bridge maintenance program, which represents an increase of about $3 million from last year;
- $73.9 million in the winter maintenance program, which includes snow removal and ice control for provincial roads and highways;
- $65 million in governmental buildings, which includes facilities management; and
- $9.6 million in the radio communications branch.
This is in addition to the department’s capital budget of $414 million which includes investments of $181.1 million in the highway program; $60.9 million in the bridge program; $81.8 million in the federal-provincial program; $53.2 million for public works and infrastructure; $22 million for the Vehicle Management Agency; and $15 million for the Municipal Designated Highway program.
“Our department is looking at our current needs with an eye to the future,” said Green. “The additional funds will assist us significantly as we renew our transportation infrastructure.”
Featured image: New Brunswick Route 11.
(By Verne Equinox at the English-language Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21358786)
